News broke the previous afternoon that a Penduline Tit — one of Britain’s most sought-after rarities — had been discovered at Woolston Eyes, Warrington. With family commitments ruling out an immediate dash, the only option was to wait and hope the bird lingered. By early morning, the message every birder hopes for arrived: still present.
With that, I headed to the reserve alongside Owen Parsons, anticipation tempered by realism. Penduline Tits have a reputation for restlessness, and on our arrival, we learned the bird hadn’t been seen for over an hour. Conversations around the hides were quietly anxious; scopes scanned bulrushes that stubbornly refused to move.
Relief came swiftly. The bird was relocated in the east corner of Number 4 Bed, and suddenly all doubts evaporated.
The Penduline Tit showed superbly, moving methodically through the bulrushes (Typha), delicately feeding and offering prolonged views. Its striking mask, warm tones and compact structure were all appreciated through binoculars and scopes alike — a bird that somehow manages to look both elegant and purposeful. For many present, it was a long-awaited first; for others, a reminder of just how special these moments can be.
The atmosphere among the assembled birders was quietly celebratory. Encounters like this are rarely rushed; instead, they unfold slowly, shared with strangers who, for an hour or two, feel like old friends.
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